Where to find the Easter Eggs in Disney's "Tangled"

Over the past 20 years, it's become something of a tradition that Walt Disney Animation Studios slips in a few Easter Eggs. A brief, affectionate nod to previous productions. Which is why the Beast from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" can be among the toys that the Sultan plays with in "Aladdin" ...

And that tradition was continued with Disney's 2009 hand-drawn release, "The Princess and The Frog." Which is why -- during that film's opening number -- you can spy the carpet from "Aladdin" being shaken out.

... given that the look and stylization of this Nathan Greno & Byron Howard film was so decidedly different from all of the hand-drawn Disney fairy tale films that had preceded it ... Well, for a time, there was a question whether this tradition of hiding a few Easter Eggs in each new film would actually continue with "Tangled."

But to give credit to those clever cusses at WDAS, they did eventually figure out how to pull this off. Take -- for example -- the "I Have a Dream" number. Where (SPOILER AHEAD) the thugs at the Snuggly Duckling reveal that they're not such bad guys after all.

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When you purchase the Blu-ray and/or the DVD version of Disney's "Tangled" next week, be sure and pay close attention to this song where Big Nose ties a rope to Shorty ....

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... and then sends this drunken thug soaring through the air around the Snuggly Duckling.

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"What's so special about this scene in 'Tangled' ?," you ask. Well, check out the support column that Flynn Rider is hanging from.

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To be specific, the upper portion of that support column. Where -- stashed in the rafters directly above Flynn -- you'll see a certain wooden boy.

Better yet, how about that sequence where Rapunzel, Flynn, Pascal and Maximus sneak into the kingdom so that the lost princess can then finally see the lights which are launched every year on her birthday?

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There's a brief scene in this sequence where Rapunzel & Flynn duck into a bookstore.

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Cab you see that picture book -- in the upper left-hand corner -- which is on display in the front window?

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That's actually the storybook from "Sleeping Beauty" 's opening sequence. To be specific, the moment in that hand-drawn animated feature when this jeweled volume is opened to this particular two page spread.

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Mind you, "Tangled" doesn't just pay tribute to Disney's animated features. This CG fairy tale also features a quick nod to the Disney theme parks. To be specific, the Fantasyland sections of these Parks. Which had a huge impact on the look and overall design of this film's sequences which were set in & around the kingdom.

Take -- for example -- this scene from the film.

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Do you see that clock tower way off in the distance?

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That building in the kingdom was supposedly modeled after the Fantasyland Clock at Disneyland Park.

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Now when I was talking with Mark Kennedy (i.e. "Tangled" 's Head of Story) about a rumor that was making the rounds last year ... To be specific (SPOILER AHEAD): That the ceramic unicorn which Vladimir deliberately leaves out in the open as a signal to Flynn Rider that the thugs from the Snuggly Duckling are about to break him out of prison ...

According to Kennedy, this brief scene in "Tangled" wasn't a deliberate "Blade Runner" reference. Vladimir just collects ceramic unicorns ...

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... because he likes them.

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So how about you folks? Have any of you spotted any other Easter Eggs and/or in-jokes in Disney's "Tangled" ? If so, post the necessary info here. And when the DVD and/or Blu-ray version of this new Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment release hits store shelves next week, we'll then see if these tips turn out to be true.

The first time I saw the movie I noticed the goat during the "I Have a Dream" sequence and immediately thought of the dynamite-chewing goat in Big Thunder Mountain. Maybe because the goat in Tangled looks very animatronic. Maybe it's a reference to something else, I don't know. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

Jack Sparrow

21 Mar 2011 3:00 PM

in the same scene where the sleeping beauty easter egg is hidden if you look to the top right you can see the Little Mermaid on broadway logo. (it's not in that screenshot but just an FYI for when people get the movie) It looks exactly like this book:

In one of the bookstore scenes there is also a little mermaid book hidden in the background. Look for it C:

Maximus

23 Mar 2011 7:28 PM

Actually if you zoom in on all of the books in that overhead bookstore scene the books have all of the title logos of almost all of the 50 Disney animated films.

Tec

25 Mar 2011 4:21 AM

I also spy Pumba in that hanging Flynn in the pub scene!

Brenden Taylor

12 Apr 2011 1:40 PM

Looks to me like Mrs. Potts scored another cameo in Tangled. When the three thugs are spinning on the chandelier in the finale the song, there is what looks like a familiar tea pot tucked in the right side angle of the ceiling truss behind them.

Annie

24 Apr 2011 10:22 PM

This might be a stretch (possibly) but after rapunzel first leaves the tower and she goes "happy! Guilty. Happy! Guilty" when she goes "thats okay what she doesn't know won't kill her right?" she's holding (and is among) lilies and lily pads. Refrence to the princess and the frog? Princess tiana? Just a thought

Jen

26 Apr 2011 10:45 PM

I think that Mother Gothel has an uncanny resemblance to the Wicked Queen in Snow White.

minnie mouse

29 Apr 2011 10:06 AM

on the staircase there is an apple ( for snow white ) a glass slipper ( for cinderella ) a mermaid ( for arial ) and a rose ( for belle )

Weston

30 Apr 2011 12:03 AM

I found ANOTHER EASTER EGG IN TANGLED! Actually my little sister did. In the end of the movie when Eugene said "and the kingdom rejoiced and they celebrated for a week," there was a blue bird that flies above the dancing people that has a white little cap on. It looked exactly like the Blue Birds that help Cinderella! No joke! Check it out frame by frame!

Beth

3 May 2011 1:57 PM

Some easter eggs are quite subtle. When Rapunzel first leaves the tower and lies on the grass, the dandelion is reminiscent of Belle singing about wanting more than a provincial life in the field. Also, in the song, I See the Light," one of the lines Flynn sings includes the phrase "crystal clear" in almost the exact same fashion as those words appear in "A Whole New World" in Aladdin. "Mother Knows Best" sounds almost exactly like "Poor Unfortunate Souls" by Ursula in The Little Mermaid.

Gabriel

4 May 2011 10:39 PM

Speaking of songs... in "Mother Knows Best", one of the terrible fates mentioned is being "trampled by a rhino". Not one of the 50 animated features but that's the same fate that befell James's (as in the Giant Peach one) parents, isn't it? And it IS a Disney production.

Shypassion

16 Jun 2011 11:39 PM

Was that not remy ( Ratatouille ) atop the flower arrangement in the i have a dream sequenceq